พระอาจารย์อธิบายว่าเมื่อดวงบาปที่สำเร็จแล้วถูกวางบนไทม์ไลน์ชีวิต ก็หลีกเลี่ยงไม่ได้ จึงจะกลัวหรือไม่กลัวก็ต้องเจอ ทางออกเดียวคือดำรงอยู่ในระบบกุศลที่ช่วยให้จากหนักเป็นเบา พร้อมชี้ว่าแม้พระสัมมาสัมพุทธเจ้าและพระโมคคัลลานะก็ไม่อาจหลีกเลี่ยงกฎแห่งกรรม เราจึงต้องไม่ประมาทและกล้าเผชิญหน้าPra Ajarn explains that once a completed sphere of demerit is set on the timeline of life, it can't be avoided — so whether we fear it or not, we'll meet it. The one way out is to abide in the wholesome system, which turns the heavy light. He notes that even the Buddha and Moggallāna could not avoid the law of karma, so we must be heedful and dare to face it.
Someone asked: a fortune-teller warned of accident risk during a 'dark-moon' period this year — how can it be remedied?
A Sphere of Demerit Set on the Timeline of Life Can't Be Avoided
Abide in system — the wholesome can remedy everything. People's misfortunes are all the fruit of the law of karma. In the past, led one to act wrongly; demerit was drawn in along with ruin, and when the deed was completed, the reward — the unwholesome , with its im, suffering, and ruin — was sealed in the completed sphere of demerit and set upon the timeline of life, both near and far, into future lives. Once set on the timeline, it can't be avoided; one way or another, we'll meet it.
Whether We Fear It or Not, We'll Meet It — So Don't Fear
The fortune-teller judged the timing of the disrobing inauspicious, that it would cause accidents. If it troubles us, we go and abide in the wholesome system. But if a sphere of demerit is already set on the timeline, we must receive its fruit regardless. Whether we fear it or not, we'll meet it — so why fear? Because demerit was set on the timeline from the moment we were born, from the first day of entering the womb — unless it is a result arising in this present life, which is still bound up with the past.
The One Way Out: Abide in the Wholesome System, Which Turns the Heavy Light
The wholesome helps turn the heavy light, and the light into nothing. So we must train ourselves to dare to face it, since we've been through this over countless lifetimes — why fear? Just abide in the wholesome system, and we appear radiant at the center of the Triple Gem, the Triple Gem appears radiant at our center, and both we and it appear radiant at the center of nibbana, with the stream of merit from deep within nibbana flowing through continuously. We are not without help — we have caretakers beyond counting; we need only learn to abide in the right system.
Even the Buddha Could Not Avoid the Law of Karma
Everyone has karmic results. Even the Buddha, or Moggallāna, who was beaten until his bones were shattered though he was an arahant, could not avoid the law of karma; the Buddha himself could not. So we must be aware and abide in the right system, and everything will pass. Don't let fear pile on us; rather let it remind us to remain heedful, by training to stay with the wholesome system all day and night. Otherwise, in an instant the mind slips off to this and that, for want of a resting place.